Workgroups question

[mzarazua]

I have a network of 4 computers. 3 have XP Professional running, and
1 has 2000 Professional. It's been up for about 6 months. Every once
and a while one of the XP computers vanishes from the workgroup.
Nothing to my knowledge has changed. From the rouge computer you can
access all the other computers, however, not via the workgroup. If
you try to view the workgroup you get a general "make sure you have
access or typed the network resource correctly" error. From all the
other computers you can view the workgroup and access all the
resources. Also, if I try to ping the computer that can't connect to
the workgroup, I can't. I've changed workgroups, then rejoined,
restarted, powered down, etc., with no resolution. Sharing and
security is enabled, and hasn't changed since day one. I'm not sure
why all of a sudden it will not be able to join the workgroup. The
last time it happened, nothing changed and after a weekend of being
powered off, it seemed to resolve itself. I have a Linksys WR54G
router connecting them all.

Has anyone out there had this happen? I'm not sure what else to try.
Thanks, workgroup frustrated.

 

[Chuck]

I have a network of 4 computers. 3 have XP Professional running, and
1 has 2000 Professional. It's been up for about 6 months. Every once
and a while one of the XP computers vanishes from the workgroup.
Nothing to my knowledge has changed. From the rouge computer you can
access all the other computers, however, not via the workgroup. If
you try to view the workgroup you get a general "make sure you have
access or typed the network resource correctly" error. From all the
other computers you can view the workgroup and access all the
resources. Also, if I try to ping the computer that can't connect to
the workgroup, I can't. I've changed workgroups, then rejoined,
restarted, powered down, etc., with no resolution. Sharing and
security is enabled, and hasn't changed since day one. I'm not sure
why all of a sudden it will not be able to join the workgroup. The
last time it happened, nothing changed and after a weekend of being
powered off, it seemed to resolve itself. I have a Linksys WR54G
router connecting them all.

Has anyone out there had this happen? I'm not sure what else to try.
Thanks, workgroup frustrated.

If you have vanishing computers, you have a browser problem (and I'm not
mentioning Internet Explorer). One of the most common causes of this problem
would be a misconfigured or overlooked personal firewall, or other security
component. There are several other possibilities too, and any might be the cause
of your problem. Read this article with an open mind.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html

You could look at "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all" from each computer, and
diagnose the problem. Read this article, and linked articles, and follow
instructions precisely (download browstat!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I have a network of 4 computers. 3 have XP Professional running, and
1 has 2000 Professional. It's been up for about 6 months. Every once
and a while one of the XP computers vanishes from the workgroup.
Nothing to my knowledge has changed. From the rouge computer you can
access all the other computers, however, not via the workgroup. If
you try to view the workgroup you get a general "make sure you have
access or typed the network resource correctly" error. From all the
other computers you can view the workgroup and access all the
resources. Also, if I try to ping the computer that can't connect to
the workgroup, I can't. I've changed workgroups, then rejoined,
restarted, powered down, etc., with no resolution. Sharing and
security is enabled, and hasn't changed since day one. I'm not sure
why all of a sudden it will not be able to join the workgroup. The
last time it happened, nothing changed and after a weekend of being
powered off, it seemed to resolve itself. I have a Linksys WR54G
router connecting them all.

Has anyone out there had this happen? I'm not sure what else to try.
Thanks, workgroup frustrated.

Try pinging the missing computer by its computer name and by its IP
address. If both of those fail, the problem has nothing to do with
the workgroup and is probably caused by a firewall on the missing
computer.

Network browsing through workgroups and My Network Places is
inherently unreliable. See if you can access the missing computer
directly by typing its name in the Start > Run box in this format:

\\computer
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Matt]

Try pinging the missing computer by its computer name and by its IP
address. If both of those fail, the problem has nothing to do with
the workgroup and is probably caused by a firewall on the missing
computer.

Network browsing through workgroups and My Network Places is
inherently unreliable. See if you can access the missing computer
directly by typing its name in the Start > Run box in this format:

\\computer
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Programhttp://mvp.support.microsoft.com

It was most definitely a personal firewall with Nortons. Thanks so
much!

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

It was most definitely a personal firewall with Nortons. Thanks so
much!

You're welcome!
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com